Cool Orchid Terrarium

[ATester]

rock on - no worries about pests/bacteria/mold?

I am a little concerned about it, that's why I am going to give everything a really good scrub and give enough time to really dry everything out before I start assembling everything.

Anyone else have experience with this?

[Tindomul1of9]

computer cooling fans help keep this stuff to a min.

[ATester]

So, I finally did it...I made the executive decision that today was the move in day. About half of the Pleuros have taken up residence in the tank already with a couple companion plants for some added touches. The bog so far looks happy (the butterwort is in bloom right now). At the first sign of stress I can still easily remove plants as needed. I'll shoot a pic as soon as everything is situated.

[Tindomul1of9]

Cool! We need pics!

[ATester]

Already started shooting pics until the film ran out...so mixed in with the photos of George Romero (the guy who wronte and directed Night of the Living Dead) are some terrarium pics. I'll finish shooting on the weekend.

So, the collection so far (in the tank)

Tillandsia:

miniature xerographica
and two others that I can't quite pin point

Orchids:

Masdevallia infracta
Masdevallia 'Hirasaki'
Pleorothallis restrepioides
Stelis argentata
Masdevallia fulvescense
Ancipitia viduata
Ancipitia crocodiliceps
Restrepia trichoglossa
2 Restrepia sanguinea
Restrepia dodsonii x cuprea

Companion plants:

Miniature fern (no pinpoint on species)
Babies tears (growing in the same pot as the fern..bonus)
Butterwort (in bloom)
Sundew (in bloom)

Live Sphagnum moss
Cladonia lichens (some have come into fruit since placing them in the tank, nice spash of red!)

I don't have the irrigation system up and running yet, but this weekend I am picking up a manifold and some additional tubing to do drips so I can stop spraying the moss three times a day

The background is made of Great Stuff spray foam covered with black silicone and then shredded cocoa bedding (coir) was applied while the silicone was wet...makes a nice non descript background of "forest soil". I have mesh baskets suspended in the back ground. Some shells of tree trunk were also added with their resident lichen and moss tenents which has revived nicely after being dried out for the summer. I know its not exactly cloud forest background, but it works well and so far the orchids are LOVING it (since they are the focal point of the tank after all). The tillandsias are there for some variety in texture and added colour when in bloom. If they start getting too big they can be easily removed. Right now the tank is about 70%-85% humidity, I crack a near by window to adjust humidity and temperature for the moment until I construct the hood which will house the lighting and the temperature control fans.

Anyway, I should have pics up by the middle of next week!

[Piper]

Wow - that sounds like a huge undertaking! I can't wait to see your pics, Aaron! You terrarium guys really impress me! Although there is something to be said for little plants that don't take up much room!

McJulie

[sake of silence]

Not sure if your realize it, but xerographica is xerophytic... A nice cool grower that will withstand lots of humidity, T. streptophylla, T. pruinosa will be more appropriate.

[ATester]

Not sure if your realize it, but xerographica is xerophytic... A nice cool grower that will withstand lots of humidity, T. streptophylla, T. pruinosa will be more appropriate.

Ahh, so low humidity...got it...its coming out of the tank.

Thanks.

[ATester]

Ok, so here are some pics...I've got more to scan, but the kids are about to come knocking on the door for candy, so I'b better get my butt up there (after all...Hallowe'en IS my favourite holiday).

There is also a pic of the Masdevallia discoidea in bloom...not the clearest pic, I need to scan again at a higher res...so I will repost.

Aaron

[ATester]

Oh, and the xerographica is out of there...though still in the pics